HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



at Newtown, Celbridge, Mr Kirkpatrick on Pilgrim 

 rode a match with Mr W. Kennedy on Sweet Pea 

 for £2^ a side, and won easily. The match was the 

 result of a remark by Mr Kennedy, " If I had had 

 Sweet Pea entered for the Hunt Cup you would not 

 have won." It created great interest among the 

 country people. 



Mr W. T. Kirkpatrick tells me he is indebted 

 to his old servant, John Carroll, for the particulars 

 of this match, who wrote them down for him 

 shortly before his death at Donacomper in 1906. 

 Carroll was in his ninetieth year and died after a 

 faithful service of seventy years at Donacomper. 

 He began as stable boy for Mr Wm Kirkpatrick at 

 the age of fifteen, and was stud groom and subse- 

 quently coachman to Mr Alexander Kirkpatrick, 

 and coachman to the present Mr Kirkpatrick, the 

 grandson of his first employer. He continued 

 driving until he was over eighty, and when he was 

 no longer able to climb on to the box he would walk 

 down to the yard with the help of two sticks and 

 superintend the grooming of the horses. 



In 1846 Mr Alexander Kirkpatrick, as holder of 

 the Hunt Cup, was asked whether he would object 

 to its being run for at the Garrison Steeplechases at 

 Dunboyne. He made no objection and the race was 

 won by Mr Burgh's Swindler. Mr Kirkpatrick was 

 upset at the third fence by Mr Madden on his 

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